Automatically-controlled water-gas set



April 9, 1929. w. BARR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Jan. 51, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet W. BARR Aprifl 9, 1929.

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Jan. 51, 1925 I 5- Sheets-Sheet KLAJ Y I J A April 9, 1929. w BARR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Jan. 31, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aim,

April 9, 1929. w. BARR 1,708,375

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Jan. :51, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 9, 1929, w BARR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Jan. 31, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES r 1,708,375 PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER BARR, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN GAS CON- STRUCTION COMPANY, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

AUTOMATICALLY-CONTROLLED WATER-GAS SET.

Application filed January 31, 1923. Serial No. 616,162.

This invention relates to gas making apparatus, such as water gas sets; the invention has for an object to provide an efficient mechanism for insuring operation in proper sequence of the various valves in the water gas set, the mechanism involving a construction that provides absolut'e safety of operation by hand power, and permits ready and quick detachment of the hand operating device and a substitution of an automatic operating device by any ordinary workman, without any disturbance whatever of the primary controlling means that insures correct operation of the valves. Thus, a mechanism may be installed with the hand operating device, and. at any future time power operation may be substituted by a mere substitution and without involving any adjustment whatever of the parts that directly control the operation of the water gas apparatus valves.

Many of the valves on a modern water gas set are operated by a hydraulic cylinder. To control these cylinders is to control the set. Such control is accomplished, according to the invention, in a very simple, direct manner, by the use of the master cylinder with its piston valve as hereinafter described. The piston valve is preferably constructed somewhat like a hollow dumb-bell. High pressure water surrounds the handle or neck of the piston, and is floated up and down. The spaces above and below the pis ton valve are connected to the waste pipe at the bottom. The piston rod extends up through the floor and is operated by hand or alternatively the hand operating mechanism may be disconnected and a power means substituted, without in any manner disturbing the master piston and the operation of the valves which it controls. As the piston valve floats the zone of high pressure water upwardly, it uncovers one port after another which immediately sends high pressure water to the hydraulic cylinders which are thus connected in. At the same instant, the mate of each of these ports is being uncovered just under the bottom of the piston valve permitting water to flow freely into the exhaust space. The return trip of the piston valve will cause the reversal of each of these cylinders as the upper ports are one by one connected to the exhaust water space and the lower ports at the same time connected with the zone of high pressure water.

The space within the hollow piston conducts water from the upper part of the master cylinder through to the waste pipe at the bottom. Any piping connected to the ports above or below the piston must necessarily contain low pressure water, while the mate from each of these pipes connecting to the central space occupied by high pressure water must carry high pressure water.

Consequently, the stem or piston rod is packed against practically zero water pressure, thus reducing friction, wear and leakage. Another great advantage is that should the piston wear and some of the high pressure water leak out from around the central neck, it will be carried away immediately into the waste with no danger of confusing the proper operation of the cylinders.

The ports are permanently cut in the master cylinder in proper sequence for operation of the water gas set. The motion of the piston valve, therefore, must necessarily open and close the valves in the proper sequence. There is no way in which it could get mixed-up and open the wrong valve,

In addition to the general objects recited above, the invention has for further objects such other improvements and advantages in construction and operation as are found to obtain in the structures and devices hereinafter described or claimed.

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specification and showin %or purposes of exemplification. a preferre form and manner in which the invention may be embodied and practiced, but without limiting the claimed invention to such illustrative instance or instances:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevational view of a valve operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking toward the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation of the master cylinder and the master piston valve, and also showing connections between the master cylinder and some of the water gas apparatus Valves;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevational view showing the connections between the master or control cylinder and the various apparatus valves, such as the blower steamvalve, generator steam-valve, and generator blast valve, of a water gas set;

Fig. 4" is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustratin the connections between the other side the master or control cylinder and the various a paratus valves, such as the hotvalve, car uretter blast-valve, oil spray-valve, oil supply meter and oil spray-purge valve, stack-valve, and high pressure water valve, of a water gas set;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a water gas set equipped with a valve operating mechanism such as illustrated in the preceding figures; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism for locking the apparatus in any selected apparatus valve setting.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in each of the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 5, there is shown a water gas machine, or set, said apparatus embodying in its construction the following essential elements: The Water gas geherator 11 provided with the usual chamber for carbonaceous fuel is connected by means of the discharge pipe section 12 with a carburetor 13. The latter in turn is connected at its bottom by the discharge passageway 14 with a superheater 15. The carburetor andsuperheater are of the well known constructions. embodying essentially two chambers filled with checkerbrick for storing up heat while the air blast is on, the heat so stored in the checkerbrick being employed in the gas carburation and fixing in the subsequent steam run.

At the top of the superheater 15 there is provided a discharge pipe 16 having a branch 17, the latter leading to a water seal 18, through which the gas passes to the usual scrubber and condenser (not shown).

The top of the discharge pipe 16 leading from the superheater may be opened and closed by the stack valve 23. Said stack valve consists essentially of a cover plate 24 adapted to fit over the top of the discharge pipe 16 and pivotally mounted at 25 in a suitable upright 26. Connected with the cover plate 24 at its pivotal point is an operating lever connection 27, the opposite end of which is attached to the upper end of a pressure-operated piston which works in the stack-valve cylinder 30 and responds to pressure supplied to the u per end of the cylinder 30 to open the stack .valve and, reversely, to pressure supplied to the lower end of the cylinder to close the stack valve. Above the discharge pipe 16 is positioned a stack 31 through which the gases and products of combustion from the superheater pass when the stack valve 23 is open.

The water gas set is of the up and down run type, that is to say :-during the up run, the steam passes from the bottom of the generator through the mass of glowing fuel and the-gas generated as a result of the chemical reaction between the steam and the glowing fuel discharges from the top; whereas, on the down run, the steam enters at the top of the generator and the resultant gas discharges from the bottom. This change in direction of flow of the gas in the generator is effected by means of the main or up-anddown run or hot valve 32. The up-anddown run valve 32 embodies in its construction a pressure cylinder 33 within which works the usual piston, not shown. The valve piston, it will be understood, controls ports in the piping 12, 34 and 35. lVhen the piston in the cylinder 33 is in the up position, the hot valve is set to permit passage of the gases from the upper end of the generator into the carburetor, the operation at this time being an up-run. On the reverse operation of the piston in the cylinder 33, the hot valve is set whereby the gaseous products pass from the lower end of the generator into the carburetor 13, the operation at this time being a down-run.

Extending horizontally of the set is an air blast pipe 36 which leads to the vertical pipe 34 and is connected therewith to supply the blast to the lower end of the generator 11. Also connected with the main blast pipe 36 is a branch 37 leading to the carburetor 13. Separate valves are provided for controlling the blast supplied by the pipe 36 to the generator and to the carburetor, namely,-the generator blast valve 38 and the carburetor blast valve 39. These valves are preferably of the gate type respectively provided with cylinders 40 and 41, having pistons which in the up position operate to open the valves and in the down position operate to close the valves. For supplying the oil to the carburetorduring a run, there is provided an oil spray valve 42 operated by a similar piston which works in a cylinder 43. When the piston is in the down position in the cylinder 43, the oil spray valve is lowered into the carburetor for discharging its spray; on reverse operation of the piston, the oil spray valve is elevated out of the carburetor.

In addition to the apparatus valves above mentioned, the water gas set is provided with other valves, such as the following indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 4 and in Fig. 4": the blower steamvalve 101, which controls the supply of steam to the turbine that operates the blower, is provided with a hydraulic cylinder 102 having a piston for opening up or shutting ofi the supply of steam to the turbine. The generator steam valve 103 controlling the supply of steam to the generator 11 is opened or closed by a piston in a hydraulic cylinder 103. The generator steam reversing valve 104 is operated by a direct lever connection 105 from the hot valve in such manner that the steam is supplied to the .top of the generator 11 when the hot valve isof the generator when the hot valve is in the up run position. The oil spray purge valve 106, and the oil meter valve 107, which controlthe supply of oil to the spray valve 42 are provided with a hydraulic cylinder 10'? having the usual operating piston.

In a water gas machine or set, such as above briefly described, the cycle of operation is as steam is admitted to the turbine that operates the blower. The generator blast valve 38 next opens to permit the air to pass into the bottom of the generator; shortly thereafter, the carburetor blast valve 39 is opened to permit the air blast to enter the carburetor. The operation of the valves in the above stated sequence is known as taking off the run and putting on the blast. During the blast cycle of operation the hot products of combustion from the generator pass out of the top of the generator into the carburetor, Where any unconsumed, or partially consumed portion of the gas is burned in the secondary air supplied by the carburetor blast. The whole volume of the heated products of combustion passes through the checkerbrick in the carburetor and through the superheater to the stack thereby storing up in the carburetor and superheater a great amount of heat for the subsequent steam run. As soon as the air blast cycle of operation is completed, the next operation of the cycle is carried out, this being known as taking off the blast and putting on the run. The carburetor blast valve 39 is closed; the generator blast valve 38 is then closed; the stack valve is closed and the oil spray is concurrently lowered into the carburetor. Next the generator steam valve 103 is opened to admit steam to the bottom of the generator, the hot valve being still in the uprun position. The gas so produced passes out of the top of the generator into the carburetor. Just after the steam valve 103 is opened, the valve 107 is operated to supply the oil from line 107 to the spray 42 through line 107 so thatthe gas is enriched by the oil sprayed into the carburetor. The enriched gas passes through the hot checkerbrick in the carburetor chamber and superheater chamber. Finally the gas discharges through the outlet 16 and branch 17 and through the water seal'18 from which the gas passes to the scrubber and condenser. On completion of the up run, the down run is commenced by next operating the main valve to the down run position, whereupon the steam reversing valve 104 is jointly operated to admit steam to the top of the generator, with the result that the lean blue gas passes out of the lower end of the generator and subsequently into the upper end of the carburetor chamber. At the end of the down run, themain valve is again operated to the up run position for another up run. At the termination of the second up run of this cycle, the oil galve is closed and the shift of taking off the run and putting on blast is again made. Thereupon, the several valves are operated in the blast sequence hereinabove set forth.

In the operation of a water gas set, according to the above cycle, it is important that the valves be operated substantially in the se quence described above, that is to say-whcn taking off the run and putting on the blast the up and down run or main valve must be first operated to the up run position, the oil valves must be closed, the stack valve must next be opened and followed in sequence by opening of the generator blast valve and the carburetor blast valve. It is also important that the stack valve be in the open position substantially concurrently with the opening of the generator blast and that, in turn. the generator blast valve be in the open position before the carburetor blast valve is opened. WVhen taking off the blast and putting on the run, it is important that the carburetor and generator blast valves be closed before the stack valve is closed. These considerations are absolutely essential to the safe manipulation of the set for the obvious reason that, if any of the blast valves be opened to an appreciable extent while the stack valve is closed, the blast will be blown back into the scrubber and condenser where it will mix with the gas and form an explosive mixture.

Still referring to Fig. 4 and in Fig. 4*, the main up and down run or hot valve 32 is controlled in its operation by fluid pressure lines 46 and 47, the line 46 leading to the top of the cylinder 33 and the line 47 leading to the bottom of said cylinder; the oil spray valve 42 is controlled in its operation by fluid pressure lines 48 and 49 from the stack valve pressure lines 51 and 50, hereinafter described, the line 48 leading to the top of the cylinder 43 and the line 49 leading to the bottom of said cylinder. The stack valve 23 is controlled in its operation by fluid pressure lines 50 and 51, the line 50 leading to the top of the cylinder 30 and being connected with pressure line 49 and the line 51 leading to the bottom of said cylinder and being connected with pressure line 48. The generator blast valve is controlled in its operation by fluid pressure lines 52 and 53, the line 52 leading to the top of the cylinder 40 and the line 53 to the bottom of said cylinder; the

carburetor blast valve 39 is controlled in its operation by fluid pressure lines 54 and 55, the line 54 leading to the top of the cylinder 41 and the line 55 to the bottom of said cylinder; the blower steam valve 101 is controlled in its operation by fluid pressure lines 57 and 58, the line 57 leading to the topv of the cylinder 102 and the line 58 to the bottom of said cylinder. The generator steam valve 103 is controlled in its operation by fluid pressure lines 201 and 202, one line leading to one end and the other to the other end of the cylinder 103. The oil spray purge valve 106, which supplies steam from line 106 to line 106 to purge the oil line 107 and oil spray 42, is controlled in its operation by fluid pressure lines 203 and 204, one line 203 leading to the top of the cylinder 107 and the other 204 to a point below the top.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5 and to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, inclusive, there is provided at a suitable control station, indicated at C in Fig. 5, a vertical cylinder 59 to which the several fluid pressure lines herein-.

charged fluid (water, oil, etc.) from those pipe lines which are operating on the exhaust sides of their respective valve-operating cylinders. The fluid pressure line 47 to the bottom of the main up-and-down run or hot valve cylinder 33 leads from and iscom municably connected with the top of thecontrol cylinder 59, as shown at 61 4f); the fluid pressure line 46 to the top, of the main up and down run or hot valve-jfcylinder 33 leads from and is communicablyconnected with the bottom of the control cylinder. 59,"

as shown at 62. The fluid pressure line 203 to the top of the -oil spray purge valve cylinder 107 leads from and is communicably connected with the bottom of the control cylinder 59, as shown at 63; the fluid pres sure line 204 to the middle portion of said oil purge valve cylinder 107 leads from and is communicably connected with the top of the control cylinder 59, as shown at 64. The

fluid pressure line 50 to the-top of the stack valve cylinder 30 leads from and is com munic'ably connected with the top of the control cylinder 59, as shown at 65' the fluid pressure line 51 to the bottom ofl the stack valve cylinder 30 leads from and is comcontrol cylinder 59, as shown at 68.

. various valve cylinders. As the municably connected with the bottom of the control cylinder 59, as shown at 66. The fluid pressure line 53 to the bottom of the generator blast cylinder 40 leads from and is communicabl connected with the top of the control cylin er 59, as shown at 67; the fluid pressure line 52 to the top of the generator blast cylinder 40 leads from and is communica-bly connected with the bottom of ltge e fluid pressure line 55 to the bottom of the carburetor blast cylinder 41 leads from and is communicably connected with the top of the control cylinder 59, as shown at 69; the fluid pressure line 54 to the top of the carburetor blast cylinder 41 leads from and is communicably connected with the bottom of the control cylinder 59, as shown at 70. The fluid pressure line 202 leading to the generator steam valve cylinder 103 to close the valve is communicably connected with the top of the cylinder 59, as shown at 72 5 the fluid pressure line 201 leading to the said cylinder 103 to open the generator steam valve is communicably connected with the bottom of the cylinder 59, as shown at 74. The fluid pressure line 57 leadin to the top of the lower steam valve cyTinder 102 is communicably connected with the bottom of the control cylinder 59, as shown at 78; the fluid pressure line 58 leading to the bottom of the blower steam valve cylinder is communicably connected with the top of the control cylin- .der 59, as shown at 76.

The order in which the several fluid pres sure lines to the various valves, hereinabove mentioned are connected to the cylinder 59, is that which will accomplish the operation of the several a paratus valves to effect the blast and run cyc es hereinbefore described. Ex-

tended within the cylinder 59 is apiston rod 90 to the lower end of which is secured the control piston 91. The control piston 91 is provided with to and bottom flanges 92 which fit closely the wall of the cylinder 59 and provide between them a chamber or space 93 surrounding the mediate portion of the piston and from'which the high pressure operating fluid supplied from the port 401 is distributed to the various fluid pressure lines hereinabove described. The distribution of the hi h pressure fluid is,-of course, determined y the position of the piston 91 in the control cylinder 59. As shown in Fig. 3 the piston 91 is made hollow to provide an interior chamber or space 94 open at top and bottom for the free circulation of thedischarged fluid from the exhaust lines of the piston 91 movesone Way in the control cylinder 59,

[the various hydraulic valves are progressively operated in proper sequence, and when the piston travels in the opposite direction,

the operation of said valves is reversed, also in proper sequence. With this construction the downward and return movement of the single piston 91 in the cylinder 59 will distribute the operating fluid progressively to the several hydraulic valve cylinders with reversal in direction of the flow of the fluid in such manner as to etiect the operation of the various valves through a complete blast and run cycle of the water gas machine.

The piston rod 90 extends through a gland 90 in the head of the cylinder 59 and upward ly beyond the top of said cylinder, being provided witlra screw threaded portion 95. The parts of the handpower actuating mechanism for the control piston 91 are enclosed within a casing 96, provided at its lower end with a flange 97 which may be bolted by bolts 98 to the top flange 99 of the control cylinder. As shown in Fig. 2, the top flange 99 of the control cylinder is located just above the operating floor level F, so that the casing 96 may be conveniently positioned directly on the top of the master or power cylinder and bolted thereto by the bolts 98. The master or power cylinder 59, the controlling piston 91 and all the various valve orts in said cylinder, together with the fiuld pressure line connections to the .water gas apparatus valves are located below the floor level F and need not be disturbed at all, when attaching or removing the hand power actuating mechanism. An automatic actuating mechanism, for example a mechanism such as that of the (Io-pending application for Letters Patent of the United States of Thomas WV. Stone and myself, filed January 31, 1923, Serial Number 616,139, now Patent Number 1,670,911, may be quickly substituted for the hand power actuating mechanism without adjusting any of the valve-controlling parts whatever. Within the casing 96 is mounted a slidable vertical operating rod 300 provided at its lower end with a screw threaded portion 301. A turn buckle member 302 hav- I ing screw threaded sockets at its opposite employed for holding the parts securely in their connected relation. At its upper end the operating rod 300 is provided with a vertical rack 304, the teeth of which mesh with a pinion 305 mounted on the inner end of the horizontal operating shaft 306. The shaft 306 projects through the casing 96 and is provided at its outer end with a hand wheel 307. By turning the hand wheel first in one direction and then in the other the control piston 91 may be raised and lowered to effect the operation of the valves in the sequence described above. In order to balance the load that issuspended from the operating rod 300, a counterwei ht 308 is mounted at the lower end of a e. le 309 which passes over a sheave 310 and thence downwardl to a lug 311. The lug 311 projects from t e side of the actuating rod 300 and the cable 309 is connected to said lug by the bolt devices 312. As the control piston and other parts rise, the counterweight descends, and, as the piston descends, the counterweight rises. This construction serves greatly to reduce the power which must be applied to the hand wheel to operate the piston.

An indicator is provided for showing to the operator the setting of the various apparatus valves in any position of the actuating rod 300 and the connected piston 91. Secured to the rack 304 so as to move with it is a pointer 400 which projects through a vertical slot 401 in the front of the casing and cooperates with the symbols and legends shown on the indicating plate 402, to inform the operator at any instant of the setting of theapparatus valves.

There is also provided mechanism for automatically locking the actuating device at each successive valve setting, so that the operator will have to release the look before he can operate the mechanism to the next valve setting. This prevents incorrect operation of the water gas set by too rapid turning of the hand wheel. The rack 304 is provided with a series of lock notches-500 corresponding individually to the various valve settings. Located on one side of the casing 96 and adapted to be screwed into or out of a socket 501 is a hollow cylindrical member 502. The cylindrical member 502 is provided adjacent its outer end with a handle 503 for screwing it into or out of the socket 501. Extending within the hollow bore of the cylinder 502 is a rod 504 provided at its inner end with a locking head 505 that will enter a lock notch 500 in the rack 304, whenever the rack has moved a notch into registry with the head. The head 505 is made of somewhat greater diameter than the rod 504 and moves within the cylindrical chamber 506 at the inner end of the cylinder 502, said chamber being also of greater diameter than the bore at the outer portion of the cylinder. Encircling the rod 504 within the chamber 506 is a sprin 507 which bears against the head 505 to t rust it forward into locking position within a notch 500, whenever one of said notches is moved into registry. The outer end of the rod 504 is provided with a handle 508 for moving the rod 504 and head 505 out of looking position. Whenever it is necessary to operate the machine rapidly to any desired valve setting, without stopping at intermediate settings, the handle 508 will be held out until the required setting position is wardly and uncovers first, the upper generator blast port 67 forcing the generator blast up and open; second, the piston uncovers the upper carburetor blast port 69 passing water to the bottom of the carburetor blast valve cylinder and opening the blast valve. The blast is now on. This continues for some time, for example approximately three minutes. During thls period the piston inside the control cylinder 59 has reached the top of the stroke, has reversed and is now traveling downwardly until it is time to take 01f the blast and put on the run.

As the piston is moving downwardly, the

high pressure area will be uncovered to the lower sets of ports. First the lower carburetor blast port 70 will receive high pressure water which enters the carburetor blast valve cylinder at the top, forcing the valve downward and closed. Next, the lower generator blast port 68 will receive water, pass it to the top of the generator blast cylinder, to force-"the valve downwardly and closed. Next? the stack valve lower port 66 will receive water pressure, pass it to the bottom of the stack valve cylinder, forcing the stack valve closed. The lower generator steam port 74 will receive water and pass it to the right end of its cylinder forcing the piston to the left and opening generator valve admitting steam for making gas. Next, the lower blower steam port 78 will send water to the top of the blower steam valve cylinder, closing off the steam from the turbine and shut ting down the blower. Next, the high pressure water will be-passed through the lower oil spray ort 63 to the top of the control 107 for the oi supply meter 107 and the oil spray purge 106 forcing the piston down and 0 en-. ing the oil cutoff valve and so admit oil f i'om line 107' through the meter 107 and out through line 107 to the oil spray 42 and into the carburetor. The steamup run is now on. This u run continues for a minute or a min- ,nte an a half, for example, after which the down run should be put on. I

The piston in the control cylinderis still."

moving the high pressure water area downward and uncovers the lower hot valve 62 passing. water throu h the lower port valve pipe to the top of t e hot valve cylinder, moving the piston downward, but-the .opene and the u run port isclosed.j{ jAt the same time the t ree-way valve104 in the steam-line to the generator is reversed so that steam "now passes to'thetop of the gen:

ing upward. At the end of the down run period, it is time to reverse the hot valve back to the final up run'period. The water piston passing upward moves the high pressure water area over the upper hot valve port 61 and passes high pressure water throu h the upper hot valve pipe to the bottom of t e hot valve cylinder, moving the hot valve disc down to cover the down run port and open the up-run port, at the same time reversing the three-way generator steam valve 104 so as to pass steam to the bottom of the generator instead of to the top of the generator. The up run is now on and continues for three quarters to one minute.

3107 for the oil meter 107 and the oil spray .pipe to the bottom of the piston in the oil spray purge 106, moving the piston upward and shutting off the oil. Further about half way in this up run period it is advisable to start the turbo-blower so that the blower will be up to speed by the time the blast valves are to be opened. The piston still moving upward admits high pressure water to the upper blgwer steam port 76 and through the up er pipe connects to the bottom of the cy inder on the blower steam valve, forcing it upward and openin the valve admitting steam to the turbine an bringing up the blast pressure in the blast lines.

It is now time to take off the run and put on the blow. 1

The piston moving upward admits high pressure" water to the upper generator steam port 72 and through the upper pipe connects to the left hand end of the generator steam valve cylinder forcing the piston to the ri ht and closlng the generator steam valve and so shutting off steam from the bottom of the generator and stopping the gas production. At almost the same timehigh pressure water is admitted though the up er stack valve port es-tome upper end of t e stack valve cylinder, the piston in this cylinder is forced downh u h t e .u er enerator blast i ,disc-u ward, so that thedown runerms; g P g P P8 18 conducted -to t e bottom of the generator blast-cylinder, thepiston moving u ward openm the generator blast. 7 Very s ortlv has been previously described, and the cycle has been completed and the second blast is on the generator.

The invention hereinabove set forth may be variously embodied withinthe scope of the claims hereinafter made.

I claim:

- 1. A mechanism for effecting the operation of the various valves of a water gas set, comprising in combination with said water gas set: a vertical control cylinder provided with ports having fluid pressure connections for operating said valves in a predetermined order; a piston within said cylinder and operable to control the flow of an operating fluid through said ports to a plurality of said valves; a piston rod for said piston and a casing located above said control cylinder vand detachably connected with the control cylinder and provided with manually-operated means detachably connected with the piston rod of the control piston for effecting the operation of the latter; substantially as specified.

2. A mechanism for effecting the operation of the various valves of a water gas set, comprising in combination with said water gas set: a vertical control cylinder and PIOX'ldQCl with ports having fluid pressure connections for operating said valves in a predetermined order; a piston within said cylinder and operable relative to all said ports to control the flow of an operating fluid through said ports to and from said valves in sequence; and a casing located above'and detachably connected with the control cylinder and driving mechanism carried by said casing and connected with the control piston for effecting the operation of the latter; substantially as specified.

3. A- mechanism for effecting the operation of the various valves of a water gas set, comprising in combination with said water gas set: a vertical control cylinder provided with ports having fluid pressure connections for operating said valves in a predetermined order; a piston within said cylinder and operable to control the supply of an operating fluid through said ports to said valves; a manually-operated mechanism for actuating said piston; locking means for automatically arresting the operation of said manuallyoperated mechanism; and a manually-controlled release device for said stop means; substantially as specified.

4. A mechanism for effecting the operation of a plurality of sequence operated apparatus valves of a water gas set, comprising in combination with the said water gas set: a control cylinder provided with ports having fluid pressure connections for operating said sequence operated valves in predetermined order; a piston within said cylinder and operable to control the supply of an operating fluid through all said ports to said valves; a casing located above said control cylinder and provided with an operating rod detachably connected with the control piston for effecting the operation of the latter; a rack secured to said operating rod, whereby a manual drive for the piston may be readily detached to allow substitution of an automatic drive therefor; manually-operated gearing for actuating said rack; and means for compelling a step-by-step movement of the control piston operating device; substantially as specified.

5. A mechanism for effecting the operation of the sequence operated apparatus valves of a water gas set, comprising in combination with the said water gas set: a single vertical control cylinder, said single control cylinder being provided with ports having fluid pressure connections for operating said valves in predetermined sequence; a piston in said cylinder and operable to control the supply of an operating fluid through said ports to said valves in predetermined sequence; a rod connected with said piston and extending upwardly through said control cylinder; a casing locatedabove said control cylinder; an operating rod operable in said casing and deltachably connected with the upper end of the rod that is connected with said control-piston whereby said operating rod may be readily detached to allow substitution of another rod; arack secured to said operating rod; manually-operated gearing for actuating said rack; and means other than said rack for compelling a step-by-step movement of the control piston; substantially as specified.

6. A mechanism for effecting the operation of the sequence operated apparatus valves of a water gas set, comprising in combination with the said water gas set: a single vertical control cylinder provided with ports having fluid pressure connections for operating said valves in predetermined sequence; a piston in said cylinder and operable to control the supply of an operating fluid through said ports to and from said valves in sequence; a rod connected with said piston and extending upwardly through said control cylinder; a frame above said control cylinder; an operating rod mounted for vertical reciprocation therein; and a connection between the lower end of the operating rod and the upper end of the rod that is connected with the piston .in the control cylinder whereby said operating rod may be readily detached from said control piston rod and another substituted without detaching the piston rod from its piston; substantially as specified.

7. A mechanism for effecting the operation of a plurality of sequence operated apparatusvalves of a water gas set, comprising in combination with the said water gas set: a control cylinder provided with ports having fluid pressure connections for operating said sequence valves in predetermined order; a

unitary control piston Within said cylinder having a plurality of difierent operative positions and operable relative to said ports to control the flow of an operating fluid to and from all said ports and their said valves in sequence; a driving mechanism located above said control cylinder and provided with an operating rod connected with the control piston for effecting the operation of the latter; a rack secured to said operating rod; and gearing for actuating said rack; substantially as specified.

8. A mechanism for effecting the operation of various valves of a water gas set, comprising, in combination with said water gas set: a control cylinder provided with ports having fluid pressure connections for operating in sequence a plurality of said valves in a predetermined order; a sequence determining piston within said cylinder and providing a central exhaust duct and an annular supply chamber and operable to control the supply of an operating fluid through said annular chamber to, and to control the exhaust of operating fluid through said central exhaust duct from, said ports for said plurality of valvesin sequence; a connection for said piston; and a detachable driving mechanism for operating said control piston located at one end of the control cylinder and provided with means detachably connected withthe connection of the control piston; whereby the driving mechanism for the control piston may be readily detached to allowsubstitution of another; substantially as specified.

9. A mechanism for effecting the operation of a plurality of the various valves of a water gas set, comprising, in combination with said water gas'set: a vertical control cylinder provided with .ports having fluid pressure connections for operating said plurality of valves in a predetermined, order; a piston within said cylinder having a plurality of different operative positions therein and operable to control the supply of an operatin fluid through said ports to said plurality o valves in sequence as said piston is operated back and forth through its different positions; and a manual-drive mechanism including a counterweight for effecting a step-by-stepmovement of said piston; substantia ly as specified.

10. A mechanism for effecting the operation of the sequence operated apparatus valves of a Water gas set comprising in combination: separate fluid pressure actuated means for operating said apparatus valves;

my hand.

WALTER BARR. 

